Compressed-air water-elevator.



Patented Dec. 19, I899.

W. H. SHAFFNER.

COMPRESSED AIR WATER ELEVATOR.

-(App1ication filed Apr. 28, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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W/ TNE SSE S cams PETERS cu. more-um New, 11v 0.

YVILLIAM HENRY SHAFFNER, OF LOUISIANA, MISSOURI.

COM PRESSED-Al R WATER-ELEVATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 639,622, datedDecember 19, 1899. Application filed April 28, 1899. Serial No. 714,882.(No model.)

To all whom it floaty concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY SHAFF- NER, of Louisiana, in thecounty of Pike and State of Missouri, have invented a new and ImprovedCompressed-Air Water-Elevator, of which the following is a full, clear,and eX- act description.

The object of my invention is to provide a tank or supply-chamberadapted to be placed at or near the bottom of a well, cistern, or thelike, and arranged to automatically receive a charge of water and toautomatically regulate the escape of air when water is to enter saidtank or chamber.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a simple means fordischarging water at an elevation from the tank or chamber, and toprovide a connection between the water-inlet valve and the air-outletvalve of the tank or chamber.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of theseveral parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed outin the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference in dicatecorresponding parts in both figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through awell and likewise a verticalsection through the improved tank or chamber located within the well,showing the connections between the outlet for the water and the pumpand supply tank or chamber in side elevation; and Fig. 2 is alongitudinal vertical section through the improved supply tank orchamber, the view being on an enlarged scale.

A represents a well or a cistern provided with a suitable top or cover10, upon which an air-pump B is supported, and 0 represents awater-supply tank or chamber that is located within the well or cisternat any desired point below the normal water-level. This chamber or tank0 consists of a bottom 11, a top 12, and

a body portion 13, and is usually of cylindrical shape. A water-inlet 14is provided in the bottom of said tank or chamber, and this water-inletis normally closed by a valve D, said valve opening inward and havinghinged connection with the inner face of the tank, as is particularlyshown in Fig. 2; and the valve D is provided with acontact-face 15,01rubber,

leather, or a like material, the body of said valve being of metal or ofwood.

Air under pressure is supplied to the tank or chamber 0 through themedium of a pipe 16, connected with the pump B, which pipe is made toenter the top portion of the tank or chamber being attached thereto inboth a liquid and an air-tight manner, and the wateris conducted fromthe supply tank orchamber through the medium of a discharge-pipe 17,that extends within the said chamber or rank to a point near its bottomand out through the platform or cover 10 at the mouth of the well orcistern, as shown in Fig. 1. An air-outlet valve E is located in the topportion of the said supply tank or chamber, and this valve consists of acasing 18 in the form of a tube that extends out through the top of thetank or chamber, as is particularly shown in Fig. 2, the said casinghaving ports 19 produced therein adjacent to the inner surface of thehead or top 12 of the chamber or tank 0 and with a slot 19 below thesaid ports. Two piston-heads 20 and 21 are held to slide in the casing18, said heads being connected by a bar '22, and when air is introducedinto the tank or chamber 0 the upper piston 20 closes the ports 19 inthe air-escape valve, and this is automatically accomplished by theseating of the water-inlet valve D, since a lever 23 is pivoted to theconnecting-rod 22, extending through the slot 19 in the valve-casing.This lever is fulcrumed upon an arm 24, projected from the valve-casing,and the lever 23 is further connected, by a link or rod 25, with thevalve D, as is shown in both views. A small air-vent 18 is alsopreferably provided at the top portion of the supply chamber or tank.Normally the valve D is open, and the chamber or tank 0 is consequentlyfilled with water, sincein opening the valve D, which is done by theforce of the water, the ports of the air-escape valve are likewiseopened, and the chamber or tank will be rapidly filled. at the surface,air is forced into the tank or chamber through the medium of the pump Band pipe 16, and owing to the pressure'of the air upon the water thevalve-D will be'closed and the air-escape valve likewise closed, thusinsuring the water passing up the stand or discharge pipe 17 to thepoint at which it is When water is needed to be delivered. As soon asthetank or chamber O is relieved from the pressure of air the column ofwater will force the inlet-valve D gradually open, thus graduallyopening the ports 19 of the air-escape valve E and permitting the aircontained in the tank to gradually pass out at the upper portion of thevalvecasing while the water enters proportionately at the inlet 14 untilthe said tank is eventually filled with fluid.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In a compressed-air water-elevator, a tank orchamber adapted to be located below the water-level of a well or thelike, said tank or chamber being provided with a water-inlet valve inits bottom said valve opening inward by the inward pressure of theentering water, an air-escape valve at the top a connection between theinwardly -opening water-inlet valve and the airvalve, a water-dischargepipe, and an air-supply pipe adapted to receive air under pressure thewate r-inlet valve being closed by the air-pressure acting on the waterin the tank or chamber, for the purpose specified.

2. In a coi'npressed-air water-elevator,a sup ply tank or chamberadapted to be located within a well or cistern below the normal level ofthe water, said tank or chamber being provided with a water-inlet valvein its bottom said valve openingin ward by the inward pressure of theentering water, an air-relief valve at its top, a connection between thewaterinletvalve and the air-relief valve, and means for introducing airunder pressure into the tank and for conducting the water therefrom, thewater-inlet valve being closed by the airpressure acting on the water inthe tank or chamber, as and for the purpose specified.

In a compressed-air water-elevator, the combination, with a tank orchamber provided with a Water-inlet valve in its bottom, said valveopening inwardly, an air-escape valve located at the top portion of saidtank or chamber, said valve consisting of a casing provided with portswithin the said tank, the casing having an outlet above the top of thetank, apiston mounted to slide in the casing and close the said ports,alever connected with the piston, and a connection between the lever andthe inlet-valve, of a stand-pipe extending through the upper portion ofthe tank or chamber to a point near its bottom, an airpnmp, and a pipeconnection between the air-pump and upper portion of said tank orchamber, for the purpose specified.

4:. In a water-elevating apparatus, a tank or chamber having a waterinlet and an outlet, means for supplying air under pressure to the tank,a valve commanding the waterinlet, said valve being held closed by theinterior pressure in the elevator, an air-Valve commanding theair-outlet, and a connection between the Water-valve and the air-valve,to actuate the air-valve by the movement of the water-inlet valve.

\VILLIAM HENRY SIIAFFNER.

Witnesses:

HENRY KUHLMANN, W. H. GLENN.

